Collection
Flowering Houseplants
Plants that really bloom indoors, and what they need to do it.
Houseplants that bloom reliably indoors include anthurium, African violet, peace lily, begonia, hoya, goldfish plant and bromeliad, while Christmas cactus and kalanchoe rebloom every year if they get long, uninterrupted nights in fall. Whatever you choose, flowers depend first on light: give flowering plants the brightest indirect light in your home, feed them during growth and, for short-day plants, keep them dark at night for several weeks before the bloom season.
What these plants have in common
- Blooms indoors without a greenhouse
- Can rebloom in an ordinary home with the right light or seasonal cue
- Flowers last weeks, not days
- Care is manageable for a home grower
Anthurium
Anthurium andraeanum hybrids- Bright indirect, 3–5 ft from an east or west window; no hot direct sun
- When the top 1–2 in. are dry; about every 7–10 days; less in winter
- ASPCA: toxic to dogs, cats and horses (insoluble calcium oxalates)
Begonia
Begonia spp.- Bright indirect; flowering types tolerate gentle morning sun
- When the surface is dry to the touch; never leave wet
- Toxic to cats, dogs and horses (ASPCA)
Bird of Paradise
Strelitzia reginae, Strelitzia nicolai- Brightest window: south or west with several hours of direct sun; summer outdoors helps
- Spring–summer when top 1 inch is dry; from late November let the top 2 inches dry
- ASPCA: Strelitzia reginae toxic to cats, dogs and horses; mild, mainly fruit and seeds
Bromeliad
Bromeliaceae (Guzmania, Vriesea, Neoregelia, Aechmea, Ananas)- Bright indirect; an east window or 3–5 ft from a south/west window; some direct morning sun is fine
- Keep 1/2–1 in of soft water in the cup, flush every 1–2 weeks; water the mix only when the top inch is dry (every 1–2 weeks)
- Non-toxic to cats and dogs (ASPCA, Neoregelia)
Christmas cactus
Schlumbergera × buckleyi- Bright indirect light; morning sun OK; no hot afternoon sun
- When the top 1 in. is dry; evenly moist during bud and bloom; drier for 4–6 weeks after flowering
- ASPCA: non-toxic to dogs, cats and horses
Coffee Plant
Coffea arabica- Bright indirect; some gentle morning sun is fine
- When the top 1 inch is dry; keep evenly moist in growth, slightly drier in winter
- Not listed under Coffea by ASPCA; leaves and fruit contain caffeine, which is toxic to dogs and cats — keep away from pets
Crown of thorns
Euphorbia milii- Full sun indoors: south or west window, 3-4+ hours of direct sun
- When the top inch is dry in spring-summer; sparingly in winter
- Toxic: irritant milky sap, harmful if eaten (not individually listed by ASPCA)
Florist's cyclamen
Cyclamen persicum- Bright indirect; winter morning sun is fine
- From below for 15–20 minutes, then drain; check daily, water when the surface is dry
- Toxic to dogs, cats and horses: terpenoid saponins, highest in the tuber (ASPCA)
Goldfish plant
Nematanthus gregarius (syn. N. radicans, Hypocyrta); also Columnea species- Bright filtered light; east window or curtained south or west window; no harsh afternoon sun
- Lightly moist, never soggy: water when the top 1/2 in. is dry, about every 4-7 days in summer, less in winter; soft water
- Non-toxic to dogs and cats (ASPCA, Hypocyrta / goldfish plant)
Hoya
Hoya carnosa and other Hoya species- Bright indirect; near an east, west or shaded south window; some gentle direct sun OK
- Soak, then let the mix dry almost completely: about every 7-14 days in summer, every 2-4 weeks in winter
- Non-toxic to dogs and cats (ASPCA, wax plant)
Kalanchoe
Kalanchoe blossfeldiana- Full sun is best (Clemson HGIC); the sunniest south or west window you have
- Let the soil dry most of the way, then soak; much less often in winter
- Toxic to dogs and cats (ASPCA): bufadienolides; vomiting, diarrhea, abnormal heart rhythm (rare)
Peace Lily
Spathiphyllum spp.- Bright indirect light for blooms; tolerates low light (no direct midday sun)
- When the top 1 inch is dry or leaves begin to sag; every 5–7 days in summer, 10–14 in winter
- Toxic to dogs and cats per ASPCA (insoluble calcium oxalates)
Comparison: which one fits your conditions
| Plant | Light | Water | Difficulty | Pets |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Anthurium | Bright indirect, 3–5 ft from an east or west window; no hot direct sun | When the top 1–2 in. are dry; about every 7–10 days; less in winter | Moderate | ASPCA: toxic to dogs, cats and horses (insoluble calcium oxalates) |
| Begonia | Bright indirect; flowering types tolerate gentle morning sun | When the surface is dry to the touch; never leave wet | Moderate | Toxic to cats, dogs and horses (ASPCA) |
| Bird of Paradise | Brightest window: south or west with several hours of direct sun; summer outdoors helps | Spring–summer when top 1 inch is dry; from late November let the top 2 inches dry | Moderate | ASPCA: Strelitzia reginae toxic to cats, dogs and horses; mild, mainly fruit and seeds |
| Bromeliad | Bright indirect; an east window or 3–5 ft from a south/west window; some direct morning sun is fine | Keep 1/2–1 in of soft water in the cup, flush every 1–2 weeks; water the mix only when the top inch is dry (every 1–2 weeks) | Easy | Non-toxic to cats and dogs (ASPCA, Neoregelia) |
| Christmas cactus | Bright indirect light; morning sun OK; no hot afternoon sun | When the top 1 in. is dry; evenly moist during bud and bloom; drier for 4–6 weeks after flowering | Easy | ASPCA: non-toxic to dogs, cats and horses |
| Coffee Plant | Bright indirect; some gentle morning sun is fine | When the top 1 inch is dry; keep evenly moist in growth, slightly drier in winter | Moderate | Not listed under Coffea by ASPCA; leaves and fruit contain caffeine, which is toxic to dogs and cats — keep away from pets |
| Crown of thorns | Full sun indoors: south or west window, 3-4+ hours of direct sun | When the top inch is dry in spring-summer; sparingly in winter | Easy | Toxic: irritant milky sap, harmful if eaten (not individually listed by ASPCA) |
| Florist's cyclamen | Bright indirect; winter morning sun is fine | From below for 15–20 minutes, then drain; check daily, water when the surface is dry | Moderate | Toxic to dogs, cats and horses: terpenoid saponins, highest in the tuber (ASPCA) |
| Goldfish plant | Bright filtered light; east window or curtained south or west window; no harsh afternoon sun | Lightly moist, never soggy: water when the top 1/2 in. is dry, about every 4-7 days in summer, less in winter; soft water | Moderate | Non-toxic to dogs and cats (ASPCA, Hypocyrta / goldfish plant) |
| Hoya | Bright indirect; near an east, west or shaded south window; some gentle direct sun OK | Soak, then let the mix dry almost completely: about every 7-14 days in summer, every 2-4 weeks in winter | Easy | Non-toxic to dogs and cats (ASPCA, wax plant) |
| Kalanchoe | Full sun is best (Clemson HGIC); the sunniest south or west window you have | Let the soil dry most of the way, then soak; much less often in winter | Easy | Toxic to dogs and cats (ASPCA): bufadienolides; vomiting, diarrhea, abnormal heart rhythm (rare) |
| Peace Lily | Bright indirect light for blooms; tolerates low light (no direct midday sun) | When the top 1 inch is dry or leaves begin to sag; every 5–7 days in summer, 10–14 in winter | Easy | Toxic to dogs and cats per ASPCA (insoluble calcium oxalates) |
Plenty of plants are sold in bloom. Far fewer bloom again at home, and the difference almost always comes down to light and, for some species, the length of the night.
Why indoor plants stop blooming
Iowa State University Extension runs through the checklist when a houseplant won't flower: is it supposed to flower indoors at all; does it get the right day length, since some plants are photoperiodic; is the light intense enough; is it fed during spring and summer, or overfed so it grows leaves instead; and does it need a seasonal or day-to-night temperature drop. UC IPM puts it more briefly: a lack of flowers usually means improper night temperatures or inadequate light.
Reliable bloomers for a bright window
- Anthurium: waxy red, pink or white spathes that last for weeks and come back through the year in bright, indirect light.
- African violet: compact, nearly continuous bloomer under an east window or a small LED light; water from below to keep leaves dry.
- Begonia: many cane and rex hybrids flower freely indoors.
- Hoya: fragrant clusters of star-shaped flowers once the vine matures; don't remove the old flower spurs, since new blooms come from them.
- Goldfish plant and bromeliad: colorful and pet-safe.
- Peace lily: the best choice for medium light.
Short-day bloomers
Christmas cactus and kalanchoe set buds when nights grow long. Starting in early fall, give them 12 to 14 hours of uninterrupted darkness each night for about six weeks: a spare room or a closet overnight works; a lamp switched on in the evening can cancel the cue. Cooler nights around 55 to 60°F help Christmas cactus too.
Treat-as-bouquet plants
Cyclamen, florist azaleas and poinsettias are bred for one spectacular show. Keep them cool, bright and evenly moist to make the blooms last; reblooming is possible but takes conditions few homes have.
Pets
The ASPCA plant list classifies African violet, Christmas cactus and bromeliads as non-toxic, and kalanchoe, peace lily and cyclamen as toxic to cats and dogs. Before buying a blooming plant for a home with pets, check our pet-safe plants.
Often mislabeled: plants that don't belong here
| Plant | Why it doesn't really fit |
|---|---|
| Poinsettia | Easy to keep as a foliage plant, but reblooming needs strict 14-hour nights for about eight weeks in fall. |
| Florist azalea and cyclamen | They bloom beautifully when bought but need cool temperatures that most US homes can't offer to bloom again. |
| Monstera and fiddle-leaf fig | Grown for leaves; they very rarely flower indoors. |
Frequently asked questions
What houseplant blooms all year?
Anthurium and African violet come closest: with bright indirect light and regular feeding they flower on and off most of the year.
Which flowering houseplant does well in low light?
Peace lily is one of the few that flowers in modest light, though it blooms more in bright, indirect light.
Why is my flowering houseplant not blooming?
Usually too little light. Other causes are the wrong day length for short-day plants, too much nitrogen fertilizer, or a plant that needs a cooler rest period. See our not-blooming guide.
Are flowering houseplants safe for cats?
Some are. African violet, Christmas cactus, bromeliads, hoya and goldfish plant are non-toxic per ASPCA; peace lily, anthurium, kalanchoe and cyclamen are toxic. True lilies, often sold as cut flowers, are extremely dangerous to cats.
Should I fertilize flowering houseplants?
Yes, during active growth and bloom, with a balanced or bloom-formula liquid fertilizer at half strength. Stop for plants that are resting.
Sources
Facts on this page were checked against these publications. Links open in a new tab.
- ASPCA Toxic and Non-Toxic Plant List www.aspca.org
- Iowa State University Extension yardandgarden.extension.iastate.edu
- UC Statewide IPM Program ipm.ucanr.edu